Delaware High School Football Picks - 2019 Week 1

After 38 weeks of waiting, and 3.5 weeks of practice, the off-season is over, and Delaware High School Football is back.

Last year, it seemed we had some weeks where finding a game or two that weren’t blowouts was a severe challenge, but there look to be some potentially strong games to open up the schedule, and could easily affect teams’ playoff status in November.

SEAN GREENE – WDEL Sports Director - Last Year 193-47 (80.4%) – 80% is my goal, so just barely hung on, but can always hope for better, since 47 teams were so kind to remind me of my errors.

Thursday, September5

Milford at Indian River – 7:00 (ESPN 930AM/102.1FM)

SEAN GREENE – Milford 35-14 – Milford prepares for return to the North with a win over a former division foe.

Lake Forest at Polytech – 7:00

SEAN GREENE – Lake Forest 21-19 – A Division I win could loom large for the Spartans.

Brandywine at Laurel – 7:30

SEAN GREENE – Laurel 28-20 – Laurel’s Bulldogs won “Battle of the Bulldogs” by 30 last year, think it will be closer this time.

Christiana vs. Saint Elizabeth – 7:30 (at Caravel)

SEAN GREENE – Saint Elizabeth 35-7 – “Battle of the Vikings” should go to a Saint E team who look to try to simulate last year’s 4-1 start.

Friday, September 6

Red Lion at First State Military Academy – 4:00

SEAN GREENE – Red Lion 18-16 – One of the better games last year, this could come down to conversions, again.

McKean at Tatnall – 4:00

SEAN GREENE – McKean 14-6 – Highlanders quietly went 5-5 last year, and just missed being a 7 or 8 win team. Program on the rise.

Appoquinimink at Caesar Rodney – 7:00

SEAN GREENE – Appoquinink 14-13 – Think this will be a low-scoring, defensive struggle. Winner gets valuable points in the quest to make the playoffs, like the Jags did in 2018.

St. Georges at Cape Henlopen – 7:00 (Delaware 105.9FM)

SEAN GREENE –St. Georges 24-12 – Second year for J.D. Maull after switching from St. Georges to Lewes. Emotions should run high, even if neither side will admit it, publicly.

SEAN GREENE – St. Mary’s 22-14 – This has been quite the competitive rivalry over the past 4 years. Delmar is still looking for a win in Annapolis in this rivalry.

Delcastle at Tower Hill – 7:00

SEAN GREENE – Tower Hill 35-7 – Hillers have improved some of their schedule, but this is fishing for Division 1 points.

Smyrna at Middletown – 7:30

SEAN GREENE – Middletown 28-27. There’s been plenty of talk about Middletown QB Braden Davis and Smyrna LB Devo Williams, but who will be the player that will be talked about after the game?

William Penn vs. Salesianum – 7:30 (at A.I. duPont)

SEAN GREENE – Salesianum 28-14. Sals need to settle in a new QB, against a William Penn team that nearly rallied late to make the postseason.

Caravel at Woodbridge – 7:30

SEAN GREENE – Woodbridge 27-14. Caravel made a huge run last year when their schedule loosened up, but this is a tough ask. That said, they have a slight experience advantage over the defending champions. Could be grounds for an upset.

Saturday, September 7

Dover at Hodgson – 10:30

SEAN GREENE – Hodgson 28-27. This should be game of the weekend, and last year Hodgson’s run to 10-0 started with a big home victory over a championship contender, can C.J. do it again?

DMA at Wilmington Charter – 11:00

SEAN GREENE – DMA 35-12. Brian McArdle takes over as DMA head coach, but a lot of the pieces of the regular season success for DMA are still there, and this is important as many other D2 teams should be getting D1 wins this week.

Mount Pleasant at Archmere – 2:00

SEAN GREENE – Archmere 28-20 – Auks suffered a late transfer loss, and graduated plenty of seniors, but they should be able to hold off a Mount program that’s been resting near .500 lately.